Rebecca Gibb - Weather-watching wineries: Marlborough day 4

Harvest time is all about the weather. And in true British style, the weather's one of my favourite subjects. It continues to turn out nice every day in Marlborough and, for those producers with grapes still to come in, that's great news. But for the crew at Jackson Estate, a nice bit of rain would be ideal.

Rebecca Gibb - Milk Round: Marlborough day three

I have never seen 3000 cartons of milk in a vineyard but I had to believe my eyes this morning at Jackson Estate's newly-planted Pinot Noir site.

Rebecca Gibb - Good things come in small packages: Marlborough day two

Richard Siddle comment April

Laurel and Hardy could have been on to something after all. Aficionados out there may remember the film, Towed in a Hole, in which Stan comes up with idea they decide to transform their life as fish salesmen by "cutting out the middle men" and catching as well as selling their own fish.

Rebecca Gibb - Vintage Boots: Marlborough day one

I swore I would never work in a cellar again after a terrible vintage experience in Australia in '06. Rose-tinted glasses firmly on, I've agreed to do a week's work at Jackson Estate in Marlborough.

Viña Casa Silva's, Mario Pablo Silva reports on vintage progress after the earthquake

22nd March 2010, Colchagua Valley, Chile -

Just seven days after the big earthquake hit Chile, Viña Casa Silva was 100% operational again. Harvesting began less than 48 hours after the quake and bottling started 72 hours after that. The cellar suffered damage that has required a lot of re-organization but luckily it is all fixable and Viña Casa Silva will not lose this landmark of the Silva's heritage.

Ann Burton, CUBE Communications blog on Fairtrade Fortnight

As Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 drew to a close earlier this month, the Fairtrade Foundation hailed this year's push a resounding success. But why should UK consumers be choosing Fairtrade wine?

Richard Siddle, comment March 12

It is the time of the year many people in business dread. The appearance of the company accountant and the end of year budget review.

Angela Mount, comment March

The 1st Taste of India food and wine conference and exhibition held in Mumbai at the end of January, highlighted just how far India has come, but equally how far it has to go in terms of developing an infrastructure for its burgeoning wine market, and its own domestic wine production.

Richard Hitchcock, Bottle Green guest comment

It's the 150 million bottle question. Has the French category now found its natural level in the UK off-trade or are we seeing the lull before a further storm? Or on the other hand, are we about to see the sunshine break through the clouds as producers, retailers and brand-owners alike re-assess their options in this "new" world.

Jeremy Beadls, blog February/March

Another Spring, another Budget looming and the wine and spirit industry swings into crisis preparation mode.

Richard Siddle, comment February 26

Groucho Marx once quipped he would not want to be in a club that would him as a member and it seems there are those in the drinks industry who feel much the same about signing up to a trade association.

Dominic Walsh comment February

When the government announced its latest strategy to tackle binge drinking and town centre disorder last month, it did not take me long to decide who to go to for a reasoned response. Steve Thomas, founder and chief executive of Luminar, Britain's biggest nightclub operator.

The importance of judging a wine by its cover

Consumed by the knowledge that spring is now round the corner I've been
doing everything I can to prepare for the new season.

Carol Emmas - Is this the future direction of Sauvignon Blanc?

Alan Holmes and Nick Hewitt's European gastro tour

Ten days - eating and drinking our way around Europe, sounds like fun!

Neville Blech, winebehindthelabel on new Terroir Moselle project

In the beautiful and historic city of Trier (Trèves) on the banks of the Moselle river, I attended the official launch of the "Terroir Moselle" project.

Richard Siddle comment January 2010

Having spent eight hours waiting frozen in my car through the night for the AA to rescue me and my broken down car earlier this week I had a bitterly cold first hand experience of the Big Freeze.

Chris Mason: guest editor comment

Here is a copy of Chris Mason's column appearing in December 22 issue of Harpers Wine & Spirit which he was invited to guest edit:

Richard Siddle: hope after First Quench fall

From the ashes of First Quench there are signs of some life after all. Following on the heels of the news that Wine Rack was going to be salvaged - albeit only 14 stores - comes the announcement that an English vineyard has come to the rescue of another 14 Wine Rack and Thresher stores.